Drill tool



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July 6, 1954 www# W. BRAUER DRILL TOOL July 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1948 Fig. 5

Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRILL TOOL Y Walter Brauer, Corpus Christi, Tex. Application September 30, 1948, Serial No. 51,929

This invention relates to an earth boring apparatus, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to a drilling head for drilling a bore around the outside of the drill pipe in an oil well bore.

With the present day shortage of steel casting and pipe, the removing of abandoned drill pipe 7 Claims. (Cl. Z55- 23) and casing in already drilled oil, water and gas Wells becomes very important. The present invention isgenerally concerned with a new type of well tool which may be utilized with any portable drilling rig for drilling around the outside of cemented drill casing whereby the casing may be removed. More particularly it utilizes a gear driven rotary mill encircling the casing to be salvaged in order to drill out a space around the cemented casing so that it may be removed from the well bore after it has been cut or blasted apart at any desired depth.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a drilling tool for drilling around the outside of drill casing normally left in a bore of an Oil well whereby the cemented drill casing may be loosened so that it may be removed from the well bore.

Another object of this 'invention is to provide a drilling tool for drilling around cemented casing in a well bore thereby loosening the casing from the wall of the bore without the necessity of cutting the cement in the well bore, yet permit removal of the casing so that the cement can be broken 01T after removal.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a Well tool for drilling around a cemented casing in a Well bore which is economical and eicient in operation, durable and thusI providing for an inexpensive recovery of abandoned casing in oil, water, and gas wells.

And still another object is to provide a well drilling tool for drilling around abandoned casing in a well bore to permit removal thereof from the bore, wherein said tool may be utilized with any small size portable derrick capable of permitting a Kelly joint to be suspended between the rotary table and the driveY stem of the outside drilling well tool.

And still another object'oi` this invention is to provide a reamer type drilling head suspended in a well bore on a pair of parallel drive tubes whereinsaid reamer drills around cemented casingpresent in the borein .order to loosen the casing and permit removal thereof from the bore.

Other objects and advantages of the invention I will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accomjournaled (not shown) in the frame 6.

panying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevational View of the upper part of the drill head apparatus shown utilized with a fragmentary derrick.

Figure 2 is an extensionof Fig. 1 showing the lower end of the drilling apparatus disposed in a well bore.

Figure 3 is a top View of the drilling mill head.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the rotary table and frame. Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 5 5 of Fig. 1. Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figure 1, reference character 2 indicates any suitable type of derrick utilized with a portable rig unit (not shown) for the drilling of oil Wells. The derrick is supported on the derrick floor 4 in the usual manner, which in turn supports a( table frame 6 having a rotary' table 8 disposed therein. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the rotary table 8 is secured to the upper side of a ring gear 8a which, in turn, is suitably The frame 6 is of box-like construction and is provided with an aperture 6a in the top thereof around the table 8 to permit free rotation of the table 8 upon rotation of the ring gear 8a as will be hereinafter set forth. The drill casing I0 to be salvaged (Fig. 1) is disposed ina welll bore I2 of the oil, water or gas well and may extend down several hundred feet depending upon the amount of casing that was left abandoned in the well after the original drilling thereof. The frame 6 is anchored over the Well bore I2 in such a position that the rotary table 8 is in alignment with, although spaced from, the well casing I0 for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth.

The present drill head apparatus comprises a frame member I4 having a pivotable handle or bracket member I6 supported by a traveling block I8 suspended from the top of the vderrick 2 in the usual manner. A 'pair of horizontally spaced swivel heads 20 and 22 are disposed adjacent the top of the frame member I4 and are provided with coupling members 23 and 2d interconnecting With a pair of spaced drive tubing members 25 and 26. It will be apparent that the parallel tubing 25 and 26 are in alignment with the couplings 23 and 24 and extend upwardly through the frame I4 to be coupled with the swivel heads. A pair of thrust bearings 21 and 28 are disposed on the lower member 29 of 3 the frame le through which the tubing 25 and 26 extend. The outer periphery of the tubing 25 and 25 are provided with sprocket members' tion of the Kelly member by the rotary table 3 as will be hereinafter set forth, the sprocket" drive will rotate the tubing members 25 and 26 simultaneously. It will be understood that the swivel heads 2li and 22 permit .rotation of the-4 tubings in the usual manner. lt will also be understood that the tubings 25 and 2t andthe kelly 3l are each journaled in the lower member 29' of the table' i4 to retain'the tubings yand kelly in alignment during rotation thereof. The lower end of the kelly 3| may extend freelyl into the `upper end of the casing lo' ias shown in Fig. 1 and as will be more'fully hereinafter set forth.

The pair of drive tubes -25' and 2B extend downwardly from the swivel heads freely through tapered slip bowls 3'2 in the frame 6 and into the well bore I2. It will be apparent that the drive tubes may extend in the bore any length desired depending on the number of tube joints utilized. The tapered slip bowls 32" are formed in the CII usual manner with open upper and lower ends to permit free rotation of the tubings'25 and 25 therein, and are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the frame S. It will be understood that the upper and lower portions of the frame B are cut away to receive the slip bowls 32. Wh'en it is desired to add extra ljoints to the tubings and 26', slip members (not shown) are disposed in the slip bowls 32, so that the slips may support the lower joints of tubing 25a' and Zta,

during the uncoupling and coupling operation as is normal in drilling-operations. The bottom end of each of the lower most tubing members I 25a and 26a is connected with a drill head unit comprising a casting having la pair of diametrically opposed hollow cylindrical housing members 34 and 35 integral with a large ring or cylindrical housing y36 whichencircles the drill casing l0. Hollow shafts 38 and 3% `are threadedly secured by use of `couplings 38a. and 39a to the lower endsv of the drive tubings 25a and 26a' respectively, as shown in Fig. 6,- and extend downwardly through the .respective housings 36 and 35i. An outwardly extending thrust ring 39o is formed on each of the hollow shafts 38 Vand 3S above the respective housings 34 'and 35.` A thrust bearing unit 39e is provided above and below each thrust ring 33h. Each pair of thrust bearings Sgo are enclosed by a bearing housing @iid threadedly secured'to the respective housing 355 or and having a loclringrring 39e in the upper end thereof loosely surrounding the respective hollow shaft 33er 3S to retain the upper thrust bearing units 39o in assembly. It'will therefore be apparent that the tubings 25a and 2te'. drive the hollows shafts 3B and Sii respectively. The housings 3d and as well as the housing N5, are retained in a fixed longitudinal position on the hollow shafts 3d and for simultaneous vertical movement with the shafts 38 and 3% and the drive tubings 25a and 25a. In addition, a suitable tubular shaped bearing material j is provided in each of the housings 3A and 35 lll around the respective shafts 38 and 39 to facilitate rotation of the shafts 35 and 39 in the housings 3d and 35. The shafts 35.- and 39 extend below the housings 3d and 35 (Fig. 2) and are provided with bits 4t and l2 respectively secured to the lower end thereof. The lead or pilot bits are caused to rotate with the shafts and tubing simultaneously as will be hereinafter set forth.

The cylindrical housing 3&5 is provided with a cutaway portion or circular bore ii, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 6, in which is disposed the flange-like upper part te of the cylindrical mill member or reamer 46. The mill ri is rotatable in the cylindrical housing 36 on a pair of rovs of vertically spaced ball bearings 48. Complementary grooves 43s', are provided in the outer periphery of the flange 49 and the side wall of the bore lid-'to receive the ball bearings e3. A threaded transverse aperture lido isprovided in the flange 59 'in-communication with each of the grooves loa to permit installation of the ball bearings 43. A'suitable plug ic is normally securedr in each aperture 43h to .prevent loss of the ball bearings 4B. It will be apparent therefore that the ball bearings i3 operate as thrust members between the mill i6 and the housing te vas well as facilitate rotation of the mill do in the housing 36.` The outer periphery of the reamer i8 at ya point near the lower end thereof is provided 'with a large gear member Et, while the lower end face of the reamer it is provided with a plurality of annular cutting teeth 52 as will be hereinafter set forth. The hollow shafts 33 and 39 are providedv with smallfgears 56 and 5t at a point in alignment the large gear 55B, and in meshing relationship therewith. The shafts 38 and 39 lare provided with fluid ports Gli and @2 for lubrication of the cutting teeth 52, while the lower portionthereof (Fig. 2) are provided with ports 54 vand 66 for lubrication of the lead bits which will be hereinafter set forth.

The rotary table 8 is rotated through a sprocket drivefchainV 59) connecting with the sprocket 68, and any suitable source of motive power such as engine or the like. The sprocket es is secured'to the outer end of a shaft iisd `extending from a piniongearV 'lll (Fig. 4). The shaft 68a is V.suitably'journaled in the sidel of the rotarytablehousing The pinion `gear m meshes with-the ring gear tu to causerotation of the rotary table S and kelly ill upon movement of the chain' $9 as will be readily understood.

In operation the outside drilling apparatus is preferably utilized with any suitable portable rig unit whereinthe Kelly joint 3i is rotated by the table ii vto cause a rotation of the tubing members 25 and .-ltthrough the sprocket chain Sli. The drill lhead housing 36 is disposed in the well bore and is supported by a plurality of joints of tubing 25 and 'ld suspended in the bore. The depth of the drill head housing 36 in the bore is dependent upon the number of joints of tubing utilized The lowermost joints 25d and 26a are simultaneously rotated with the upper joints 2t and 2e, and are interconnected with the hollow shafts 38 and is in the cylindrical housings 34 and 35. The lower ends of the shafts carry the pilot bits fl@ and s2. The rea-mer ai@ is rotatably disposed in the drill head housing 35, and is adapted to be rotated by the 38 and 39 through the medium of the gear connection 5t, 5t it to drive the cutting teeth 52; It .will thus be apparent that as the traveling block .i il lowers the rotating tubing members ythe cement on the casing. The kelly 3l moves downwardly into and rotates freely in the casing I during the drilling operation. it will be understood that the kelly 3l moves telescopically through the rotary table 8 during the drilling operation.

It will be apparent that as soon as a length of the tubing joints is drilled down, tubing slips may be disposed in the slip bowls 32, for supf porting the tubing joints and drill head suspended in the bore. The tubings 25 and 26 are then disconnected from the swivel couplings 23 and 24 to permit raising of the frame I4 and kelly 3l. Additional tubing joints are then connected with the tubings 25 and 26, and with the swivel couplings 23 and 24 in order to resume the drilling operation. Any desired length of abandoned drilling casing l0 may thus be loosened from the well bore. After a desired footage is thus loosened the drill casing may be out oil at the bottom, or blasted apart with an explosive, so that the casing may be removed from the well bore. Upon removal of the casing the cement is chipped off and removed in order to salvage the drill casing.

The cutting teeth 52 and the pilot bits 46 and 42 are provided with lubrication by mud and Vfluid circulation as is usual in drilling operations.

Furthermore fluid circulation permits removal of the cuttings during the drilling operations. The circulation of Ythe drilling fluid for the removal'of the cuttings, is caused by the fluid entering the swivel circulating heads and 22 from connecting hose members 'Hl and 'l2 con- Y necting with any suitable source of supply and a mud pump (not shown). The fluid discharges from the swivel heads 2t and 22 through the tubings and 26, hollow shafts 38 and 39 and out the ports 66, 82, 64, and 66, into contact with f,

the mill teeth 52 and the pilot bits 46 and 42 respectively. From the teeth and bits, the cuttings are carried by the fluid up the well bore in the annular space drilled by the outside drilling head unit.

Changes may be made in the specication and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the following claims as set forth.

I claim:

1. A tool for drilling an annulus around a casing disposed in a well bore and comprising a cylindrical housing surrounding the casing, means for supporting the housing in the bore,

a freely rotatable reamer carried by the housing, '3

said reamer having a cylindrical body having cutting teeth provided on the lower face thereof a pair of rotatable shafts carried by the housing and mounted at diametrically opposite sides of the reamer, gear connecting means between the shafts and the reamer, a rotary bit carried by each shaft below the reamer, rotating drive tubings suspended in the well bore and con necting with the shafts to cause rotation of the bits, said gear connecting means. providing a simultaneous rotation of the reamer, and means f' vprovided with cutting teeth on the lower end thereof, a pair of rotatable shafts disposed inr the housing and mounted yat diametrically opposite sides of the reamer, gear connecting means between the shafts and the reamer, a bit carried by each shaft below the reamer, rotating drive tubings suspended in the well bore and connecting with the shafts to cause rotation of the bits, said gear connecting means providing a simultaneous rotation of the reamer, and fluid circulating means for the reamer and the bits, and means providing for rotation of the drive tubings.

3. A drilling tool for use with a derrick in drilling around a casing disposed in a Well bore, comprising a, pair of drive tubings suspended from the derrick and extending into the well bore, said tubings disposed adjacent the outer periphery of the casing, a housing connecting with the tubing and surrounding the casing, said housing having an annular body portion and a pair of diametrically opposed cylindrical portions, a. shaft carried in each of the cylindrical portions and connecting with the tubings, an annular reamer rotatably mounted on the body portion of the housing around the casing, a gear carried by the reamer, a gear carried by each of the shafts and cooperating with the reamer gear, a plurality of circumferential teeth on the reamer, a rotary bit carried by each of the shafts below the reamer, and means for rotating the drive tubings and shafts, said gears providing a simultaneous rotation of the bits and the reamer.

4. The combination of a well drilling apparatus and a drilling tool comprising a derrick, a rotary table, means for supporting the table, a rotating kelly extending upwardly from the table, a pair of drive tubings suspended from the derrick and extending into the well bore, a housing surrounding the casing, a reamer rotatably mounted on the housing for drilling an annulus around the casing, a pair of rotatable shafts disposed in the housing adjacent the reamer and connecting with the drive tubings, gear connecting means between the shafts and the reamer, drive connecting means between the kelly and the tubings to cause simultaneous rotation of the drive tubings with the kelly, said gear connecting means providing a simultaneous rotation of the reamer with the drive tubings, and rotating bits carried by the shafts below the reamer around the casing.

5. The combination of a well drilling apparatus and a drilling tool comprising a derrick, a rotary table, means for supporting the table a rotating kelly extending upwardly from the table, a pair of drive tubings suspended from the derrick and extending into the well bore, a housing surrounding the casing, a reamer rotatably mounted on the housing for drilling an annulus around the casing, a pair of rotatable shafts disposed in the housing adjacent the reamer and connecting with the drive tubings, gear connecting means between the shafts and the reamer, means connecting between the kelly and the tubings to cause simultaneous rotation of the drive tubings 7, with the kelly, said*f gear connecting means providing a simultaneous rotation o the reamer With the drive tubings, and rotating bits' carried bythe shafts, andydisposed below the reamer to assist the reamer in drilling the annulus around the casing, and means providing iiuid circulation through the tuhings to` thev reamer and the bits.

6. A toolfor drilling ank annulus around a casing. disposed in a well bore, comprising an annular housing of a size to pass over the casing, means for supporting the housing' in the bore anV annular reamer rotatably carried by the housin'g,-sa-d reamer being of va size to pass over the casing, diametrically opposed housings formed on the 'first` mentioned housing, shafts rotatably mounted in each of the second mentioned housings, .means for rotating said shafts, inter-meshing'. gears' on the shafts and the rearner, and a pilot bit on one end of each of the shafts.

7.Y A tool` for drilling an annulus around a casing disposed in a Well bore, comprising an annularhousing of a size to pass over the casing,

means forsupporting the'housing-in the lloore an annular reamer rotatably carried bythe' nous-- ing, said reamer being of a'size to pass over' the casing, diametrically opposed housings formed on the first mentioned housing, shafts rotatably mounted in each of the second mentioned housings, means for rotating said shafts, intermeshing gears on the shafts and the reamer, a pilot bit on one end of each of the shafts, and fluid discharge ports in said shafts adjacent said gears and said pilot bits.

References Cited in the leof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,521,596 Casey Jan. 6, 1925 1,688,994 Smith Oct. 23, 1928 2,078,426 Sweet Apr. 27, 1937 2,197,989 Tyler etal. Apr. 23,1940 2,27$,016 Brantly Mar. 10,1942 

